Lisha
The merchant-lords and the warriors tell of a rich kingdom beyond the sands, where the land is eternally fertile and there is everlasting peace. The people want for not and war for not. I would like to visit this place, for I wish to see such a beautifully described paradiseArt by Memod on DeviantArt Lisha, named for its capital city and ancient founder, is an empire and regional power in the Khudab region. It controls its ancestral areas in the Asheli, located in the continent of Nitsala, and the territory that was once the kingdom of Diina, located on the continent of Khadala. Its spread to the east is impeded by its main rival, the large Nudelian Empire, which locks it off from trade with prosperous eastern regions, such as Mahajina. It is a prosperous nation regardless, with domination over profitable trade routes deeper into Khadala and northern Nitsala, as well as a fertile and rich heartland that gives way to a large desert that protects it from more powerful Nudeli incursions. It also borders the Lishada Sea, allowing for even further trade, although sea raiders and "less civilized" cultures provide somewhat of a roadblock in these endeavors.
-Nikhos the Historian of the Nudelian Empire, on the lands to the west.
Structure
The Empire is ruled by a central king, who lives in Lisha, the capital of the Empire. The lineage is male-preferential and hereditary, with the sons of the previous king being first in line to take the throne once their father passes. Under the king are provincial Overseers, who each manage a territory of the Empire outside of Lisha and report directly to the king, paying him some tribute. Under the Overseers still are various regional governors, tribal chiefs, and local nobility, that manage individual settlements and pay tribute to the Overseers in turn.
Culture
As one might expect, Lisha is dominated by the Lishada culture, an ancient culture with deep roots in the Khudab. The Lishada have a polytheistic pantheon of many gods that shares some overlap with the Nulshada, Diina, and Thinori pantheons. The main related feature is the prevalence of a sun god, who goes by different names in different lands.
All Lishada kings and many nobles trace their lineage to this sun god, who they call Losukhi, or one of his many children. When drought or famine strike Lisha, it is said that the ruling family has lost the inheritance of Losukhi and a new family must rise to the throne. The Lishada build tall temple-pyramids to Losukhi as houses of prayer, and many religious activities happen here. The Lishada have a preference for animal sacrifice, mainly of rams and desert birds, in order to appease their gods.
Beyond Losukhi, the Lishada have many gods. Some of the most prevalent ones are Ista, the goddess of love and war, Dulnata, the god of the sea, Ikhshara, the genderless god of the desert and death, and Nidoka, the god of magic and wisdom. The Lishada view the world was the product of the gods, and attribute most natural events to them, although a growing sect of natural philosophers in Lisha are beginning to think otherwise.
All Lishada kings and many nobles trace their lineage to this sun god, who they call Losukhi, or one of his many children. When drought or famine strike Lisha, it is said that the ruling family has lost the inheritance of Losukhi and a new family must rise to the throne. The Lishada build tall temple-pyramids to Losukhi as houses of prayer, and many religious activities happen here. The Lishada have a preference for animal sacrifice, mainly of rams and desert birds, in order to appease their gods.
Beyond Losukhi, the Lishada have many gods. Some of the most prevalent ones are Ista, the goddess of love and war, Dulnata, the god of the sea, Ikhshara, the genderless god of the desert and death, and Nidoka, the god of magic and wisdom. The Lishada view the world was the product of the gods, and attribute most natural events to them, although a growing sect of natural philosophers in Lisha are beginning to think otherwise.
Public Agenda
Currently, the Empire has two goals. The first is to maintain control of the profitable territory of Diina, which the empire conquered during the Diina Succession Crisis 22 years ago. The Diina people have so far been mostly unwilling to cooperate with their new Lishada rulers, but some minor ground has been made in recent years due to the influence of Diina Queen Na'lia Sik, a popular ruler who is also affable to the Lishada and works as the Overseer of the Northern Diina province.
The Empire's second goal is to find a trade route to the land of Mahajina, a profitable land far beyond the Empire and even the Nudeli. Many of the Empire's best dyes, spices, and textiles come from Mahajina, but the only areas that provide direct trade with Maha merchants are at dangerous ports deep into Khadala. The Empire is looking for a sea route directly to Mahajina that bypasses the Nudeli's grip on land trade with them, but so far no Maha merchant has been cooperative.
The Empire's second goal is to find a trade route to the land of Mahajina, a profitable land far beyond the Empire and even the Nudeli. Many of the Empire's best dyes, spices, and textiles come from Mahajina, but the only areas that provide direct trade with Maha merchants are at dangerous ports deep into Khadala. The Empire is looking for a sea route directly to Mahajina that bypasses the Nudeli's grip on land trade with them, but so far no Maha merchant has been cooperative.
Assets
The Empire has its hands on many useful assets. Lisha is a massive exporter of glass, blue dyes, and strong iron weapons, and the lands of the Nulshada to the south have many gold mines. Diina also has quite a lot of gold, as well as ivory and the pelts of rare animals. The northern lands of the Sekori are also rich in strong woods that are used to craft powerful bows.
Additionally, the Lishada military is famed for its skill, if not its size, and the famous generals of the Lishada army have become legends in their own right.
Additionally, the Lishada military is famed for its skill, if not its size, and the famous generals of the Lishada army have become legends in their own right.
History
The Lishada have been around in some form or another since before history was recorded. However, the first instance of an established Lishada civilization came about in 519 BM, when the Lish Culture established a small agrarian kingdom on the coast, along the Nutako River. It was quickly consumed by the ravenous Sekori Empire in 502 BM, where the Sekori quickly took advantage of its fertile land and sea routes to turn it into a rich trade province. The Lish thrived under the Sekori, and were quick to take up writing, ironsmithing, and other new technologies, as well as worship of the sun god Losukhi.
However, in 433 BM, a series of earthquakes followed by a short drought destabilized Sekori power, and their capital of Nilala was razed to the ground by Adosa raiders. The Lish quickly broke off from the Sekori as their empire caved in on itself, with several high ranking Lish military leaders defecting as Nilala fell, returning to their home to defend it from the Adosa. They did so, and Lish returned to being a small kingdom, although it was much more profitable. By 390 BM, the Lish had become referred to as the Lishada, and had began trade with the Diina.
The Lishada would enjoy around a century of peace and little growth, but in 287 BM, the ancient Nulshada King Daqos Rutika invaded southern Lisha and began the Nulshada Wars. The Nulshada Wars would end in 259 BM, after 28 years of fighting. The wars would destabilize both Lisha and Nulsha, opening them to being conquered by the Yomi to the north in 241 BM.
The Yomi would only hold on to the Lishada for 17 years, and a massive Lishada revolt in 224 BM would lead to Lishada independence in 220 BM. Without the Lishada territory, Yomi was unable to maintain control of Nulsha, and the Nulshada also rebelled in 219 BM, gaining freedom in the same year. However, the Nulshada would not be much of a threat anymore, for the incessant warring and invasions of Mutabs to the south keeping the region destabilized. The Lishada also suffered for a period after emancipation, but quickly got back on their feet due to trade with the new Nudelian Empire.
The Lishada would enjoy another long era of peace and relatively little growth, but that would change in 127 BM, when their ally the Nudelian Empire turned on them and conquered the Pasha Valley, a massive source of gold. The Empire's economy teetered on the brink, and they decided to invade Nulsha in 122 BM due to their many gold mines. The war was quick but brutal, and Nulsha was conquered completely by 119 BM, with many Nulshada dying. Some see this as the beginning of the Lishada Empire, although the Lishada did not consider themselves to be an empire quite yet.
With the Nulshada gold, the Lishada were able to strengthen themselves and control trade with Diina more efficiently. They began to establish trade colonies across the Lishada Sea, and began trade deeper into Khadala using Nulshada ports.
The Lishada began to truly fancy themselves an empire when, in 23 BM, the Sekori, their old rulers, asked if they might be able to become a vassal of Lishada, for defense against the Nudeli. The Lishada agreed, and they began to think of themselves as a true empire. In 1 AM, the mathematician Alshoka Nukhata finished his construction of the new Lishada Calendar, which is used by many cultures. In 3 AM, a succession crisis in Diina allowed the Lishada to conquer most of the formerly powerful kingdom, and the future now looks a bit brighter for this ancient culture.
However, in 433 BM, a series of earthquakes followed by a short drought destabilized Sekori power, and their capital of Nilala was razed to the ground by Adosa raiders. The Lish quickly broke off from the Sekori as their empire caved in on itself, with several high ranking Lish military leaders defecting as Nilala fell, returning to their home to defend it from the Adosa. They did so, and Lish returned to being a small kingdom, although it was much more profitable. By 390 BM, the Lish had become referred to as the Lishada, and had began trade with the Diina.
The Lishada would enjoy around a century of peace and little growth, but in 287 BM, the ancient Nulshada King Daqos Rutika invaded southern Lisha and began the Nulshada Wars. The Nulshada Wars would end in 259 BM, after 28 years of fighting. The wars would destabilize both Lisha and Nulsha, opening them to being conquered by the Yomi to the north in 241 BM.
The Yomi would only hold on to the Lishada for 17 years, and a massive Lishada revolt in 224 BM would lead to Lishada independence in 220 BM. Without the Lishada territory, Yomi was unable to maintain control of Nulsha, and the Nulshada also rebelled in 219 BM, gaining freedom in the same year. However, the Nulshada would not be much of a threat anymore, for the incessant warring and invasions of Mutabs to the south keeping the region destabilized. The Lishada also suffered for a period after emancipation, but quickly got back on their feet due to trade with the new Nudelian Empire.
The Lishada would enjoy another long era of peace and relatively little growth, but that would change in 127 BM, when their ally the Nudelian Empire turned on them and conquered the Pasha Valley, a massive source of gold. The Empire's economy teetered on the brink, and they decided to invade Nulsha in 122 BM due to their many gold mines. The war was quick but brutal, and Nulsha was conquered completely by 119 BM, with many Nulshada dying. Some see this as the beginning of the Lishada Empire, although the Lishada did not consider themselves to be an empire quite yet.
With the Nulshada gold, the Lishada were able to strengthen themselves and control trade with Diina more efficiently. They began to establish trade colonies across the Lishada Sea, and began trade deeper into Khadala using Nulshada ports.
The Lishada began to truly fancy themselves an empire when, in 23 BM, the Sekori, their old rulers, asked if they might be able to become a vassal of Lishada, for defense against the Nudeli. The Lishada agreed, and they began to think of themselves as a true empire. In 1 AM, the mathematician Alshoka Nukhata finished his construction of the new Lishada Calendar, which is used by many cultures. In 3 AM, a succession crisis in Diina allowed the Lishada to conquer most of the formerly powerful kingdom, and the future now looks a bit brighter for this ancient culture.
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